Utah immigration idea gets hearing in Mesa

Human-relations board may look at moderate reform document

While state Senate President Russell Pearce continues to push controversial immigration legislation, the city he represents is edging toward endorsing a more moderate discussion of the issue.

Mesa's Human Relations Advisory Board, a citizen panel that advises the City Council, is considering the "Utah Compact" and may recommend that the council endorse the document.

The compact was signed in November by numerous Utah political, business and religious leaders. It urges federal solutions to immigration issues, opposes policies that needlessly separate families and proposes a "humane approach" to the idea that immigrants are a vital cog in the economy.

Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh said he asked that the matter be placed on last week's agenda of the human-relations board. The board heard from Kavanaugh and Daniel Martinez, an organizer of a group called East Valley Patriots for American Values.

Martinez appeared before the City Council in early December, saying his group had coalesced specifically to oppose Pearce's immigration policies, which last week resulted in new legislation to restrict the ability of illegal immigrants to receive education and health care.

During that same appearance, Martinez asked the council to endorse the Utah Compact. Council members did not comment at that time, and most of them were leery of wading into the issue when The Republic sought their reactions a few days later.

Kavanaugh, however, said it's exactly the kind of issue the human-relations board was designed for. The panel examines and makes policy recommendations on civil rights and diversity, and those recommendations carry a lot of weight with the City Council, he said.

Rory Gilbert, a member of the board, said the panel unanimously recommended further study by a subcommittee before considering the compact again March 23.

"We want to be thoughtful, deliberative and purposeful in our assessment so that if we make a recommendation to the City Council, they know we have done our homework," she said, adding that the board is willing to hear opponents of the compact when it meets.